"
"Oh, Jimmie'll _never_ consent, never!"
"Why not?" pressed the lawyer. "You say you have no--particular genius
to be killed by--money."
"Would it mean that I'd have to give Jimmie up forever?"
"No, my dear. Indeed no. Madame's plan is that you are to go to Gray
Manor under my guardianship to live for a year. At the end of that time,
if she is satisfied--Why, your father would simply give up any claim--"
"Oh, you don't know Jimmie. He'd never do it, unless--" she paused, her
eyes suddenly wet, "unless--_I_--gave _him_ up. All his life he's made
sacrifices and given up things for me--big chances. So now--couldn't I
run away with you--and then write and tell him?"
The Cornelius Allendyce who had lived up to that moment of crossing the
threshold of this fifth-floor witchery would have scorned such a
suggestion as "ridiculous! ridiculous!" But the Cornelius Allendyce of
the lavender tie saw mad possibilities in such a step. Take the girl to
Gray Manor and settle with Mr. James Forsyth afterwards.
[Illustration: "COULDN'T I RUN AWAY WITH YOU?"]
"Couldn't I?"
"Why--yes, if you think your father would accept the situation--when he
knew.
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